Car-loading apparatus



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lorn @yan Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE ROBERT T.ROMINE, OF MOUNT GLEMENS, MICHIGAN CAR-LOADING' APPARATUS Applicationled February 2, 1927, Serial No. 165,378. Renewed December 11, 1929.

This invention relates to the loading of v metal for shipment in freightcars, such, for example, as box cars, flat -cars or gondolas, andespecially concerns the handling, load- 5 ing, packingand shipment ofmetal, particularly strip or bar metal.

The present invention is a continuation in part of the invention shownand described 1n my co-pending a plication Serial No. 137,867, iile'dSeptem er 27, 1926. In said application there is disclosed. an apparatusand method for loading and packing metal for shipment in freight cars,an adaptation of the broad invention thereof being shown by lway ofexample in connection with the handling of sheet metal, such as finishedsheet steel.v In the present application, I havevillustrated a way inwhich the principle of the invention 'in my previous application isapplied particularly to the handling, loading and packing of strip orvbar metalin freight-cars for shipment. One of the important purposes ofthe inventionis to enable metal, such as strip or bar steel, to he,

shipped or handled in relatively heavy units incapable of beingvmanually lifted, in ywhich the constituent partsof thepack or bundlewill remain intact during transit, and in which the'shocks, jolts andmotions of the car will not result in the pack breaking loose orotherwise shifting-so as to causesubstantial damage to the car; andwherein the units or packs, such as bundles weighing from five to' tentons, may be handled without necessitating vthe breakin up oftheibnndles and the separate han ing of the constituent parts.

vlAiurther object ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus forbinding, bracing or maintaining the constituent parts of the -bundleorf-pack together against suchmove- -ment as Yniiiumlfi preventv removalofthe packs as units at their destination, which ap aratusis relativelyv*inexpensive to manu acture, capable of extensivere-useyinterchangeable, and adaptedior use with packs of varying sizes.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View. of the loadingapparatus of this inventionshowing the pack kof bar or strip metal supported for shipment.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction disclosed in Fig..1. f

-Fig. 3 is an end view ofthe pack showing generally the construction ofone ofthe blittresses. f Y f f Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, withone of the buttresses and base members at the end of the pack removed. Y

Fi Y. y5 is a View, partly in section, similar to Fig. 4, showing theposition of the membersv for additionally preventing upward movementofthe binders relative to the pack and its base or pallet.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of the bars and connecting meanstherefor 'forming a part of the adjustable transverse binders. v r Fig.7 is a detail perspective view illustrating the unassemoled parts of thepressure device. l l i Fig. 8 is a ldetail perspectiveview showing theunassembled parts for connecting to-` gether, in spaced relation,thai-rame mem-v ers of Fig. 6. i f Figs. 9 and 10 are-detailperspectivesv of the longitudinally extending truss members.

Fig. 1l is a perspectiv'ezview of a portion of a freight car showing twopacks of metal with their respective binding or bracingap-l paratus inposition for shipment on the floor of the car.

Fig. 12 is a perspective Viewv showin the inside of a box car with astack lifter e evating va bundle into osition to be deposited upon thelift plat orm of an electric'lift.

truck.

Befre explaining in detail my invention of description and not oflimitation, and itis i not intended to limit the invention beyond theterms of the several claims hereto appended or the requirements of theprior art. In the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicatesimilar parts in the several views, A designates a pack or stack of baror strip steel, B designates the freight ear floor, and C the transversesupports or base members forming a supporting pallet positioned on thecar floor for supporting the ack A. Each pack, in the present instance.1s bound together into a unit by means of binders 20, these bindersbeing adjustable and of substantially the same construction as thosedescribed in my co-pending application above referred to. These binderscomprise parallel strips or sections 21 and 22 each having a series oflongitudinally spaced holes or perforations 23, as illustrated in detailin Fig. 6. The parallel bars 21 and 22 are held together in operativerelation by means of a bolt and nut construction illustrated in Fig. 8,which construction comprises a bolt 24, nut 25, and sleeve 26 whichsurrounds the shank of the bolt 24 and which is positioned between theopposite inner faces of the bars 21 and 22. the sleeve 26 `serving thepurpose of maintaining the bars in their proper spaced positions asindicated clearly in Fig. 6. In order to properly space the transversebinders from the wooden strips D extending about the pack A, and toapply to the' pack through the medium of the strips D, sucient pressureto bind the constituent parts of the pack together properly, a pressuredevice E is employed, such device comprising a plate 27 bent at oppositeends to form 'a yoke adapted to embrace opposite sides of any one of theframe members of the binde-r. The central web or portion 27 of the okeextends transversely across the inner side of the frame members 21 and22 constitilting-a part of the transverse binders, and has centrallythereof a tapped hole 28 through which'is'threaded an adjusting screw29. Interposed between the end of the adjusting screw 29 and the woodstrips or members D, is n metal thrust plate 30, having a recess l31drilled centrally thereof to receive and center the adjusting screw 29.Each thrust or bearing plate is preferably provided with multipleprojections 32 (Fig. 4), the outer faces thereof forming a grippingsurface engageable with the wood member D. Pressure devices as indicatedat E are equidistantly spaced about the top and side of the pack and actagainst each of the several wood strips D. The pressure devices hereindescribed are substantially like those described in my copendingvapplication previously mentioned. Where desirable, additional means maybe usedfor resisting longitudinal displacement of the constituent partsof the pack due to shocks to which the cars are subjected, or due to theweaving movement of the bundle in transit. In the present instance Ihave provided buttresses extending across the ends of the pack. Thesebuttresses comprise vertical or upright angle bars or trusses 40, havingright angle flanges 41 and 42, the flanges 42 serving to support theopposite ends of similarly shaped horizontally disposed angle bars ortrusses 43, which may be of smaller cross sectional area than the anglebars 40, thereby reducing considerably the weight of the apparatus. Theangle bars or truss members 43 each has a vertically extending flange 44positioned back to back with the flanges 42 of the vertically extendir'-angle bars or truss members 40, and an outwardl extending horizontalflange 45. The en s of the angle bars 43 may be secured to thevertically extending bars or truss members by means of rivets 46, or inany other suitable manner. Interposed between the inner face of each endbuttress or frame and the pack, are a series of wooden strips 47 whichpreferably extend at right angles to the horizontal angle bars 43. Thesewood strips 47 are preferably placed edge to edge as clearly illustratedin Figs. 1, 3 and 11, to form a continuous surface or inner facecomposed of vertically extending wood strips. VThese wood members 47 inconjunction with the skeleton frame 40-43 not only provide a relativelylight construction, but also provide cushioning means of relatively softmaterial in' intimate contact with the edges of the bars or strips ofmetal to protect the ends of the bars or strips againstI damage.

To prevent the relative movement of the transverse wood blocks C,consituting the base members or supports for the pack of metal A, and totie these supporting members C together. thereby forming a unitarysupporting pallet, I provide, preferably` a pair of longitudinallyextending angle bars or truss members and 65 at each side of the bundle.The angle bars 60 are comparatively long as compared with the langlebars 65. The purpose of providing angle bars of different lengths ishereinafter fully described.

Each of the comparatively long angle bars 60 (Fig. 9), is provided witha vertically extending flan 60 having a plurality of holes 61 formedtherein, and a horizontally extending flange 60b likewise provided witha plurality of spaced holes or apertures 62. The horizontal flange 60bis adapted to rest upon the top surface of the wooden supporting blocksC of the pallet and to be secured thereto, as by means of nails 63, orany other suitable means, which are inserted in the holes 62 formedtherein. Each of the shorter angle bars or ltruss members 65, (Fig.

'10), comprises a vertically extending flange 65l having a pluralityofspaced holes 66 formed therein, and ahorizontal flan e 65, which islikewise provided with space holes 67 which are also adapted to receivethe plate 68 is'provided witha preferably cen' trally located hole 69,the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter described. Each of `thelongitudinally extending angle bars or truss members 60 and 65is-provided at spaced intervals with an inwardly projectingy steel*plate or strip 70 (see Figs. 9 and 10).= The plates or strips 70 arepreferablyv connected with the longitudinally extending members A 60 and65 by rivets or in any other suitable.

manner, so as to provide an integral structure. V f In order to supportor maintain the buttresses or end protectors in a vertical position andto hold their inner Wooden faces 47 in intimate contact with the ends ofthe bars or strips of metal inthe pack, metal straps or links7 5 areprovided. I These straps or links are each provided adjacent theiropposite ends with'holes which are adapted to receive bolts 76 forVsecuring the straps to the iianges 41 of the vertical angle bars 40 ofthe buttresses and also to the vertical flanges 60a and 65a of thelongitudinally ex tending angle bars 60 and 65, respectively. In orderto adjustably connect the opposed ends of the angle bars 6() and65^together and to permit their relative movement towards one another, atie rod or bolt 80 is positioned at opposite-sides of the bundle A andattached to the angle bars.v One end 80'L of the tierod is bent at rightangles to it so as to engage any one of the holes 61 formed in theflange 60a ofthe angle bar 60. The opposite end 80b of the tie rod isscrewthreaded and is adapted to pass through the hole 69 formed in theend plate 68 of the angle bar 65 which is positioned at the side of thepack at the opposite end thereof. vA nut Slis threaded upon the end'80*` ofthe,

tie rod and connects the same with the relatively long angle bar 60,whereas a nut 82 is threaded upon the `end 80b of the tie rod and servesto connect that end with the shorty angle bar 65. The tie rodsVpositioned at opposite sides of the pack, areidentical.

These tie rods 8() effect the longitudinal ad-V. justment of thebuttresses to cause their innerlijfaces, comprising the wood strips'l,to fenejj gage the ends of the constituent partsoffthe t v pack. Thepurpose of providing angle bars of different lengths as described,-is'toper# t otthefpackf mit the use of a standard form and sizeo y, K Y

e tie rods 7^8() are connected with binding apparatus upon stacks orbundles' or bar metal of widely Lvaryingl of strip lengths. It will beseen that if thebundle is considerably shorter than those illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, requiring relative adjustment of theapparatus,vit is plates sides ofthe pack or'bundle, is to prevent merelynecessary to insert the ends 80* `ci? each tie rod 80 into .the properhole61 lof the angle bar 60 and to rotate the nut 82 drawing thethreaded end 80 of the tie rod toward theopposed end of the other anglebar 65. In other words,.the major adjust ment is eiectedfb positioningthe end 80 ofthe tierod in tlie proper hole 61 `formed in the verticalflange 60 ofthe long angle bar 60, and' the minor or' more' accurate adjustment'ofthe parts is effected by the' cooperation ofthe threaded endAof the tie rod,VA and the nut 82. Therefore, it is only necessary tothread a small portion of the end 80"v of the tie rod thusfmaintainingthe vcostof such rods at aminimum. If all of the angle bars were of thesame length, such as the angle bars 65, it would be impossible,

when using them connection with long packsv or bundles of metal, for theangle bars to spanthe space between and inter-connect the lateral woodmembers C of the pallet to form a rigid, unitary base. Moreover,

if the angle bars were all long,`as are ythel bars 60, they would beincapable of use in connection with short-er packs or bundles of metalfor the reasouthat their ends, instead of being properly spaced apart toallow their Y relative adjustmentv wouldv overlap and it comes'the abovediiiiculties.

The urpose of providing the strips or l0 which' extend beneath oppositethe angle bars 60 and 65 from being ri pod loose from the lateral woodmembers ci) the pallet when forces acting uponthe bundle or pack movethe ends of the constituent parts thereo'fagainst one of the buttressestending to cause the bundle to move upwardly ombend in the middle, 4orto cause the upper ends'iof'the buttresses to swing outwardly,

`such movement exerting a strain or upward pull upon the angle-bars 60vand 65 relative to the transverse palletmembers C.

' Iuassembling th'epajck orbundle of strip` orbar metal, ltheYtransverse binders, indi-r catedgenerally atf20, arel placed about the`pack, and then the' transverse Wood members C- formingfthepall t. may beplaced in ,posi-'v' 'is yconnected with one Y tutti. rigfagle 'bars-.60at konefside and ywith nglebar 65 at the other, andthebutwhichareconnected to thestraps or tresss -linksii areplaced??infiposition at'y the'fends,

tending angle bars. 60 and 65, the wood strips 47 arel 'laced inpositionbetween their-ame; l

work o eachbuttress ,and the ends ofthe constituent parts of the pack,so as t form, when l lio the buttresses are tightened upon the ends ofthe pack, cushioning means between said buttresses and said pack ends.Thereafter, the tie rods 80 are connected with the angle bars aspreviously described, and by tight-- ening said rods, the but-tressesare bound against the opposite ends of the pack. After the necessaryadjustment has been effected, nails 63 (Figs. 2 and 4) are inserted inthe holes 61 and 67 formed in the angle bars 60 and 65, res c'ctively,and driven into the wood members (1 to firmly secure the angle bars tothe wood members and to provide an integral pallet or supportingstructure for the undle.

It will be seen, therefore that it is an important purpose of the endbuttresses to maintain the pack of strip or bar metal upon its allet orsupporting structure, and to securey bind the constituent parts of thepack to the pallet so as to allow the pack and its binding andsupporting means to move or oat 4upon the car floor as a unit tocompensate for shocks or the like to which the car is sub'ected intransit.

at I claim is:

1. Apparatus for binding strip or bar metal in a pack on the floor of afreight car for shipment, comprising a series of Wood members extendinbeneath the pack, means at each side of t e ack for securing saidmembers together to orm a unitary support, and buttresses extendingacross each'end of the pack for resisting the longitudinal displacementof the constituent parts of the pack, said buttresses and said securingmeans being connected together.

2. Apparatus for binding strip or bai-metal in a pack on the floor of a`freight car for shipment, comprising a plurality of transverse basemembers, means extending lon itudinally of the pack at each side thereofor securing said base members together, binders extending about thepack, buttresses extend-4 ing across each end of the pack for resistinglongitudinal displacement of the constitent partsof the pack, saidbuttresses being connected with said securing means and said securin vmeans having means projecting beneath t 1c pack for maintaining the samein predetermined relation to the pack.

3. Apparatus for loading strip or barmetal in a pack on the fioor of afreight car for shipmentcomprisin a base posltioned beneath the pmclqspace binders extending transverselyabout the pack, members extendingl 'tudinally of the pack secured to said base an having means extendingbeneath the pack to prevent u Ward-movement thereof relative to ,thease, and buttresses extending across each end of the pack for resistinglongitudinal displacement of the .constituent parte of the packV:saidbuttresses being detachably connected -with said members.

4,`In an apparatus for loading strip or bar metal in a pack on the floorof a freight car for shipment, the combination of a plurality of basemembers, longitudinal bars at opposite sides of the pack for securingthe base members together to form a unit, adjustable binding meansextending about the pack transversely thereof, and buttresses extendingacross the ends of the pack for resisting longitudinal displacement ofthe constituent parts of the pack, said buttresses being detachablyconnected with said bars.

5. An apparatus for loadin strip or bar metal in a pack on the floor o afreight car for shipment, in combination, base members, truss membersextending longitudinally of the pack at opposite sides thereof andconnected with the base members to form a unitary supporting structure,means extending inwardly from said truss members beneath opposite sidesof the pack to prevent upward movement of the truss/members relative tosaid base members, and buttresses extending across each end of the packto prevent longitudinal displacement of the constituent parts of thepack, said buttresses and said truss members being inter-connected, thebuttresses having wooden inner faces adapted to enga e the ends of theconstituent parts of the pac 6. The combination with an apparatus forbinding strip or bar metal in a pack on the floor` of a freight car forshipment, of buttresses extending across each end of the ack forresisting longitudinal displacement o the constituent parts of the pack,said buttresses having inner faces of wood adapted to engage the ends ofthe pack, and comprising a skeleton angle iron frame.

7. The combination with an apparatus for binding strip or bar metal in apack on the oor of a freight car for shipment, of base members forsupporting the pack on the fioor'of the car, means for securing the basemembers together, means connected with the securing means for resistingthe upward movement of the securing means relative to the pack, spacedbinders extending transversely of the` pack for maintaining theconstituent parts of the pack together, and means extending across eachend of the pack in engagement with the ends of the constituent partsthereof for preventing their longitudinal displacement.

8. Apparatus for binding strip or bar metal in a pack on the floorof afreight carV for shipment, comprising base members, longitudinal membersat each side of the pack for interconnecting said base members, bindersextendin transversely about the pack, means at opposlte ends of the packfor restricting` the longitudinal movement and displacement of theconstituent parts of the pack, and means for connecting the adjacentlongitudinal members toadj ust their relative positions.

9. Apparatus for binding strip or bar metal in a pack on the floor of afreight car lis for shipment, lcomprising a base, angle bars mountedupon said base andextending longitudinally of the pack at opposite sidesthereof, binders extending transversely about the pack, buttressesarranged at opposite ends of the pack for restricting the longitudinalVmovement of the constituent parts of the pack, and tie rods connectingthe opposed ends of the longitudinally. extending angle barsforadjusting the relative positions of the buttresses.

10. An apparatus for binding a pac-k of stripor bar metal o n the floorof a freightcar for shipment comprising longitudinallyy spacedtransversebase members between the pack and the car iioor and adapted to move as aunit relativelyto `said floor, angle` bars .ex-

tending along opposite sides of the pack and; connected with the basemembersfor formk ing a unitary pack supporting structure, means carriedby said angle bars projecting beneaththe pack on oppositek sides thereoffor v v resisting-the upward movement Aof the angle buttres'sesresistingthe relative longitudinal movement'of the'constituentparts of the pack.'

`bars relative to the pack and base members,

spaced -binders extending ,about the pack transversely thereofforresisting lateral dis-a placement of the strips or bars, and but- Y'tresses' operatively connected with said longiltudinal angle barsextending across veach end of the pack, said buttresses each comprisinga skeleton frame of angle bar construction and an inner Wood 'face inengagement with the ends of thel constituentparts ofthe pack, said 11.Apparatus forloading a pack ofmetal, such as strip or bar metal or thelike, :on a

car Hoor, comprising [a unitaryjwood' pallet port for the pack'. free tomove on the car r oor, binding means for the pack and includ-A Y ingdevices for exerting pressure against the pack to resist relativemovement'of the con-v stituent parts, additional means for resistinglongitudinal movement of the metal, and' means for maintaining saidlast-mentioned means in substantially fixed relation to saidl support.

13. The hereindescribeifj method of loading strip or bar metal forshipment on the floor of a freight car, consisting in binding the metaltogether in a pack Withthe pack supported on a wood pallet free to 'more,onthe car floor, and uniting sai-d pallet and pack to hold the sametogether agamst relative move 'mont 14. apparatus of the classdescribed, comprisin pallet members positioned on the car floor orsupporting a pack, means for securing said members together, meansconnecte'd to the securing means for resisting relative longitudinalmovement of the parts of the pack, and means for resistingupwardmovement of the securing means relative to the pack. s

15. apparatus .of the class described, comprism pallet memberspositioned on the car floorl orv supporting a pack, `a pair of membersat eachv side of the pack for connecting said pallet members, means forrelaftively adjusting the members of each pair,

and means connected tosaid vmembers for resisting relative movement ofthe pack and palletI members. Y j Y 1 16. A n apparatus of the classdescribed, comprisingk transverse supporting v members ,for a pack,'alongitudinal member at each side ofthe pack.` connecting said supportingmembers together, and means'connected to said' y'lolligitudinal membersforresisting relative longitudlnal movement ofthe porti' members.

pack and sup- 17. nan apparatus f the class described, aseries-oftransverse wood members for supporting a pack` on the floor of acarrier, longitudina Ymembers at f'ooposite' sides of the packconnecting; saidwood llne'mbers; together, up#k right buttresses atthe-ends `ofthe pack, and

meansffor ,connectingsaid buttresses to said longitudinal members vateach side ofthe ack. 18'. In .an apparatus of the class described, aseries of transverse wood members for sup portinga pack-on the floor ofa carrier, longitudinal members at o posite sides ofthe pack j.

connectingsaid woo members'togethen up-` a right vbuttresses at the endsof the pack, and

means for independently connecting each buttress toy a longitudinalmember` at each sidek ofthe-pack.

-In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ROBERT T. ROMINE.

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